A new Public Education Network poll finds that voters' "concerns about rising gas prices and the sagging economy trump education as a campaign issue, even as more Americans believe the nation's schools are getting worse," Education Week reports. (Free registration required.)

You can view the original Public Education Network poll here.

I had a few hours to read, so I pulled out the folder into which I cram all of the things that catch my eye and might make good material for a column. Here’s what I read recently:

This site from Learning First Alliance provides examples of what is working in various public schools and districts and provides educators an opportunity to post success stories from their schools and districts.

In February 2008, about 200 teens gathered to discuss the school dropout rate in New York City, covering such factors as peer pressure, lack of support from parents, schools and the community, barriers for immigrants and gender inequities. The Children's Aid Society has posted recommendations from the conference on its Website.

As Congress considers how to reauthorize the No Child Left Behind Act—set to expire in September—many organizations and agencies are weighing in on its successes and shortcomings. This article, by Children’s Advocate writer Kelly Virella, lays out the differing arguments in several areas.

CFK Reports From: Keeping Our Edge: Americans Speak on Education and Competitiveness
Event: Briefing
Organized By: Educational Testing Service
Where/When: Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill; June 21, 2006

In this briefing, the Educational Testing Service (ETS) presented the results of its sixth annual nationwide poll of the public's views on the role of education reform in supporting American competitiveness.

The Alliance for Excellent Education hosts its 2006 Breakfast Forums on Promising Practices in Secondary Education in Washington, DC.

"If teaching remains a second-rate profession, America's economy will be driven by second-rate skills." These were the words of Lou Gerstner, former head of IBM and founder of the Teaching Commission, at the release of the Commission's final report, which calls on state and local leaders to do much more to reform the way American teachers are trained, licensed, supported, and paid. The report outlines the status of our nation's schools and students, and looks at promising reform strategies. The final section of the report outlines specific steps for federal and state governments, school districts and schools, and communities and parents.

America is in the midst of a "drop-out" crisis. Nationally, only about two-thirds of all students who enter 9th grade graduate with regular high school diplomas four years later. Rates vary widely across states, but on average, 72 percent of female students and 64 percent of male students graduated in 2001; the numbers for African American students is as low as 50 percent. Contrary to popular opinion, several studies show that young people who have dropped out do want to finish their degree. This new report from the American Youth Policy Forum looks at efforts across the country to reconnect out-of-school youth with educational and work opportunities. The report focuses on specific approaches in 12 communities, and looks at national models for reconnection.

According to the Council of the Great City Schools' annual Beating the Odds report, fourth and eighth graders are doing better in reading and math, both on state standardized tests and the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP). The report compared test scores from 2002 through 2005 in 66 urban districts. While urban school achievement remains below national averages in math, the percentage of fourth and eighth graders in these schools who scored at or above proficient levels has risen each year since 2002. Reading achievement is also improving in urban schools, particularly among fourth graders: 54.4 percent of urban fourth graders scored at or above proficient level in reading, up more than 11 percentage points from 2002. In addition, race-based achievement gaps appear to be narrowing in reading and math.